This is not an ordinary field school - this is a ‘Training Field School’ where you will learn about all aspects of archaeological excavation and receive hands on training and learning from archaeological professionals in the heart of Sherwood Forest…As well as offering the best in archaeological training and support, the 2017 Field School is tailored towards enabling attendees to fulfil the requirements of theArchaeological Skills Passport.

Archaeological Training Field School 2018:This course is suitable for all levels from beginner to experienced digger.

For those wishing to develop their skills, for students and post-graduates seeking to fulfill the experience requirements of their courses… for those wishing to pursue a career in archaeology, or improve their knowledge to give them the edge at work… for those looking to acquire cross-transferable skills… for volunteer diggers wishing to raise their game, impress their friends, and increase their enjoyment of archaeology and heritage through a greater skill set and knowledge base…. through to people simply wishing to learn for the love of learning…

Everyone is welcome… no previous knowledge or experience is required…

You will receive training and experience in many techniques of excavation,

including The Core Skills of the Archaeological Skills Passport:

Handtools (Trowel etc)

Handtools (Spade, Mattock etc)

Site Formation Processes

Stratigraphic Excavation

Context Sheet Recording

Site Photography

Site Grid and Trench Layout

Dumpy Level and Staff

Planning

Section Drawing

Collection of Samples

Artefact Recovery, Recording & Storage

Site Safety

Plus many higher level archaeological techniques that make up the Secondary Skills of the Archaeology Skills Passport including:

Survey (Total Station)

Finds Processing

As well as covering skill requirements for the Passport we also provide:

Pottery identification,

Finds handling,

Finds processing,

Flint Knapping Demonstrations,

History of Ceramics lectures,

And much more…

As well as the above all school attendees will receive the following:

All techniques are taught and experienced throughout the week, with hands on training from our Archaeological experts. Every attendee will learn to excavate, draw sections and plans, and fill in context sheets and paperwork.

Delegates will undertake workshops in surveying including:

Measuring and recording heights with a dumpy level

Laying out a trench in the field from co-ordinates

3 dimensional surveying with a total station.

3 dimensional survey with a dumpy level.

Hands on learning and training is supplemented with seminars covering many of the subjects listed above -providing the theory behind the practice.

All attendees will receive a welcome pack with room for all handouts from lectures.

This course is suitable for people of all archaeological abilities from beginner wishing to take their first step, to experienced diggers wishing to take the next step, and from university students and post-graduates needing more experience, to retired people wanting to fulfill a life’s ambition… all are welcome and will be treated equally… the experience is tailored to the individual through hands on personal supervision.

Lunchtime demonstrations:

Prehistoric Technologies:

Pot-boiler stone making,

flint-knapping

Pottery identification

Field Days include lunch provided by our field caterers which will be eaten in our welfare area in the field.

A tuck shop is also available for snacks and drinks to be bought throughout the day.
Onsite toilet facilities are provided along with welfare tents.

All equipment is provided, although you are welcome to bring you own trowels etc (more details when you have booked).

As well as all the above you will learn about the history and archaeology of Sherwood Forest, and also about the designed royal hunting landscape and Palace at its heart.

Mercian Archaeological Services CIC run the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project and are at the leading edge of research into this landscape of legends…

2 Evening field visits (optional attendance):

Field Visit to Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve- learn about Forest Law, the History of Sherwood Forest, and see some of the archaeology in the Country Park- also visit the Major Oak, legendary hideaway of Robin Hood!

Field visit to Laxton - Visit the earthworks of Laxton Castle former home of the Keepers of Sherwood Forest (also with links to King John), see the medieval open 3 field system (the only surviving in England), and visit the church with its interesting carvings, and the local visitors centre with its 17th century map of the village and its fields.

Geology and Landscape of the Sherwood region - the importance of the “Ancient Landscape”

Viking and Saxon Sherwood Forest

History of Archaeology

About King John’s Palace and Sherwood Forest:

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool focuses on the al hunting lodge and palatial enclosure of the King’s Houses, now known as King John’s Palace, and the designed landscape that surrounded it.

King John’s Palace was the Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest in the Medieval period.

The site was visited by all 8 kings from Henry II to Richard II, with King John possibly holding a proto-parliament there in the early 13th century and Edward I holding Parliament there in 1290.

Recent Archaeological work by Mercian Archaeological Services CIC has helped to reveal the size and importance of the site, and has also interpreted the surrounding lordship as a ‘designed’ medieval romantic hunting landscape.

The palace was sat at the heart of medieval Sherwood Forest and provided amenities for hunting, royal retreat, and the entertaining of foreign royalty and important members of society.

As part of the field school attendees will have the opportunity to learn all about Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood, outlaws, foresters, the landscape of Sherwood Forest in medieval times, the forest law, courts, offences and judiciary, the Palace at Clipstone, monasteries, chapels and hermitages, hunting parks, Nottingham Castle , Sheriffs and much much more about life in Medieval Sherwood Forest…

Mercian Archaeological Services CIC as part of the Sherwood Forest Archaeology and History Project has been undertaking fieldwork projects in October 2017 in the designed medieval landscape of Clipstone in Sherwood Forest.

The Iron Cross marking the location of St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

This fieldwork Included Topographic Survey and Geophysical Magnetometer Survey at Clipstone Peel, and Geophysical Magnetometer Survey and Field-walking Survey at St Edwin's Chapel.

Some amazing results have emerged that really increase our understanding of these fantastic important sites in Sherwood Forest...

Visit http://www.mercian-as.co.uk for more information and upcoming opportunities in November & December 2017, and January, February & March 2018...

Come and join us and help tell the story of our world famous Forest...

Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Topographic Survey, Community Archaeology at Clipstone Peel in Sherwood Forest

Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Topographic Survey, Community Archaeology at Clipstone Peel in Sherwood Forest

Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Field-walking Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Topographic Survey, Community Archaeology at Clipstone Peel in Sherwood Forest

Field-walking Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Topographic Survey, Community Archaeology at Clipstone Peel in Sherwood Forest

Field-walking Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Field-walking Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Topographic Survey, Community Archaeology at Clipstone Peel in Sherwood Forest

Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

Topographic Survey, Community Archaeology at Clipstone Peel in Sherwood Forest

Community Archaeology at St Edwin's Chapel in Sherwood Forest

St Edwin's Chapel:

Survey the site of the legendary St Edwin’s Chapel… Resting place of a saint, or romantic medieval parkland chapel?

King Edwin, the first Christian King of Northumbria was killed in the year 633AD at the Battle of Hatfield somewhere in the area that later became Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire.

Members of the community helped to investigate if this site commemorates the place where Edwin's body lay after his death, or if is a medieval chapel founded as part of the designed Arthurian parkland hunting landscape of the medieval palace of Clipstone, founded by King John.

The research is designed to answer whether this is a Saint’s resting place or is part of a later cult of Edwin, set in a designed landscape.

Clipstone Peel:

Community members surveyed the site of King Edward II’s fortified stockade on the western edge of the former royal deer park at Clipstone, known as Clipstone Peel.

Clipstone Peel was a fortified timber stronghold built on the orders of King Edward II in 1316. It consisted of a gatehouse, hall, royal chamber, chapel, bakehouse, kitchen, grange and sheds, for cattle, oxen and sheep (Crook 1976).

The site provided a fortified stronghold for Edward II while he stayed at Clipstone, and helped ensure the royal entourage had sufficient provisions. It offered a secure location during a time of strife following the loss of Scotland at the Battle of Bannockburn, and during Edward’s troubles with the Earl of Lancaster.

This was the first ever systematic survey this important royal medieval site in Sherwood Forest…

Thursday, 3 November 2016

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology and History Project and Mercian Archaeological Services CIC have won an award from the World-Wide Robin Hood Society for "Engaging people in the heritage, history & archaeology of Sherwood Forest".

The "Feather in Your Cap" Awardpresented to Mercian recognises the hard work, expertise and dedication we have put in over the years to investigating, interpreting and promoting the heritage of our world famous #SherwoodForest and King John's Palace.

We also received the award alongside our dear friend the one and only Mr Robin Hood himself Ezekial Bone, aka Ade Andrews- who received a special award for his long term dedication to promoting Robin Hood to the world!

Well done Ade and well done us!

Thank you to the World-Wide #RobinHood Society for your recognition, to Chairman Bob White for presenting the award to Andy Gaunt Mercian Archin front of the statue of our iconic hero outside Nottingham Castle,

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

You can now book your place at the 2015 field school on eitherWeek 1: August 10th - 14th 2015Week 2: August 17th - 21st 2015via our website:http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/fieldschool.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-jPPfxSqrkThis is not an ordinary field school - this is a ‘Training Field School’ where you will learn about all aspects of archaeological excavation and receive hands on training and learning from archaeological professionals in the heart of Sherwood Forest…As well as all the above you will learn about the history and archaeology of Sherwood Forest, and also about the designed royal hunting landscape and Palace at its heart. Mercian Archaeological Services CIC run the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project and are at the leading edge of research into this landscape of legends…All techniques are taught and experienced throughout the week, with hands on training from our Archaeological experts.Field Days include lunch provided by our field caterers which will be eaten in our welfare area in the field.Hands on learning and training is supplemented with lunchtime seminars covering many of the subjects above to provide the theory behind the practice.Come and join our week long Sherwood Forest Archaeological Training Field School at King John’s Palace.You will receive training and experience in:Excavation,Stratigraphy,Contexts records,Recording,Drawing,Photography,Pottery identification,Finds handling,Finds processing,Surveying and levelling,and much more…About the Video:The video was made by our dear friend Paul Bobrucki Photography (Please see his website at: http://paulbobphoto.smugmug.com/ ) one ofMercian Archaeological Services CIC's volunteers!The video stars many of the students from last years course giving sparkling testimonials!!! Thank you to everyone who came last year- and hopefully we will see you all again this year as well as many new faces!!

Friday, 1 August 2014

The fieldwork for phase 1 of the Robin Hood’s Village Volunteer Dig has now been completed. The excavations ran from the 14th - 25th of July 2014, and was Mercian's contribution to the Festival of British Archaeology.

The project so far has been a fantastic success, recognised as Sherwood Forest's biggest ever volunteer excavation with 117 different people digging over the course of 12 days, producing over 1,374.75 hours

The dig engaged a large number of people in the village of Edwinstowe with 15 test pits dug in gardens around the village. A significant number of properties have now signed up for stage 2 which is now being organised for the autumn by popular demand.

Alongside the local community people volunteered from all over the region and around the United Kingdom with people coming from around England and Northern Ireland.

The project was also joined by a volunteer all the way from Queensland Australia- here is what she had to say about her experiences:

"I'd just like to say thank you so much to Andy, David and Sean for the last three days of getting dirty in test pits. I have made new friends, had loads of fun and have definitely learnt a lot from this experience. Could not have asked for a better first dig! I'm sure you'll be glad to know this has been the highlight of my trip and that I am so glad I came along." - Dana Abbott, Queensland, Australia.

The project has also had a significant international following online via the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project Facebook page with over 300 new followers joining us during the duration of the dig.

All great promotion for Sherwood Forest and its community and heritage.

We were also joined by the Newark and District branch of the Young Archaeology Club, members of the Edwinstowe Beavers Group, and members from the Southwell, and Newark branches of Reach Learning Disabilities Group.

We were also fortunate to have the Member of Parliament for Newark and Sherwood, Mark Spencer MP, Robin Hood aka Ezekial Bone of Nottingham Town Tours: http://www.ezekialbone.com/robinhood, and Patrick Candler of Sherwood Forest Trust join us to open the dig on the 14th of July.

All this has been possible partly due to a new way of funding Community Archaeology in Nottinghamshire- with no expense to the tax payer!

The project is shaping up to be the largest FREE Community Excavation ever to have taken place in Nottinghamshire in terms of public involvement; with over 100 individual volunteers and villagers signed up to take part over 13 days of archaeological excavation to celebrate the Festival of British Archaeology. We have people from all over the country coming to dig- and even people from as far afield as Australia are attending.

Alongside this we have two groups of Adults with Learning disabilities joining us during the fortnight, the local Beavers group will be coming to dig, and also the Newark and District Young Archaeology Club will be with us during the middle weekend. There are also plans to involve the local schools, care homes and adult education groups.

We are also fortunate to have the Member of Parliament for Newark and Sherwood, Mark Spencer MP, and Robin Hood (aka Ezekial Bone http://www.ezekialbone.com/robinhood ) joining us to open the dig on Monday morning!

We are very grateful to Edwinstowe Local History Society, particularly Margaret Woodhead, and Colin and DI Roker.

Also Robert Woodhead Ltd http://www.negroup.co.uk/component/content/article/9-offers/95-welcome-robert-woodhead for kindly welcoming us to their site and letting us use their facilities at Edwinstowe House,

Also we would like to say a big thank you to Patrick Candler and Ian Major of the Sherwood Forest Trust for letting us borrow parts of their offices... we might see Ian digging, and Patrick has agreed to come along to the opening on Monday morning. http://sherwoodforest.org.uk/

Throughout the dig we will be publishing photographs and updates so you can stay up to date with what is happening via our facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/sherwoodforesthistory to 5,132 followers and via our Mercian faceboook page https://www.facebook.com/Mercianarch to 1,155 followers.

We can also be found on twitter https://twitter.com/ArcHistSherwood and https://twitter.com/MercianArch

and via the project page at http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/robinhood.html and the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project Page at www.sherwoodforestarchaeology.com

The project is being funded through the generous support of the community including online at http://www.gofundme.com/sherwoodforest

all money raised goes to support the project so that people can continue to benefit from FREE access to Community Archaeology in the Heart of Sherwood Forest!

This is a new way of funding Community Archaeology in Nottinghamshire- with no expense to the tax payer!

This is part of Mercian's attempt to create a sustainable future for Community Archaeology in Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest.

Community support for Community Projects... The Future of Sherwood's Past!

Donate to the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project

Your sponsorship provides opportunities for different groups and individuals to experience their Local Heritage together... the Project engages people from all walks of life and ages; including adults with learning difficulties, young people, as well as those currently out of work desiring transferable skills, students needing experience, and volunteers... in this landscape of legends and folklore... all overseen by professional community archaeologists.

Community Archaeology can be a great source of social good as well as education.

The project combines community archaeology, research and outreach work- that promotes the archaeology, history and heritage of the wider Sherwood Forest, its landscape and people.

This research is intrinsically linked to raising the profile and value of the wider Sherwood Forest area.